Mining machine



Jan. 19, 1937. L. E. SIMMONS MINING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1937. L. E. SIMMONS 2,068,573

MINING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AM 1 Wmdizz PatentedJan. 19, 1937 ll 5 TAT E S T OFFICE MINING MACmNE MassachusettsApplication May 8, 1933, Serial No. 669,952

22 Claims.

This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly toimprovements in the feeding means of a coal mining machine of theflexibly fed, continuous cutter, bottom cutting type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal miningmachine. Another object is to provide an improved mining machine feedingmeans. A further object is to' provide an improved feeding means for amining machine of the flexibly fed, continuous cutter, bottom cuttingtype. Still another object is to provide an improved feeding means for aroom and pillar type mining machine whereby the machine may be fed andguided in an improved manner. A still further object is to provide animproved mining machine feeding mechanism wherein a plurality of feedoperating and controlling or haulage drums are employed and havingimproved variable speed driving means therefor whereby the haulage drumsmay be driven at any desired low speed between zero and a predeterminedmaximum low speed. Yet another object is to provide in a feedingmechanism of the above character an improved drum driving means whereinthe haulage drums may be driven at variable low speeds and at apredetermined high speed. These and other objects and advantages of theinvention will, however, hereinaf er more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes ofillustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a mining machine of the room and pillar typehaving embodied therein the preferred illustrative form of the improvedfeeding means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the feeding means shown in Fig. l,with the cover plate removed and parts shown in horizontal section toshow structural details.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinally extending vertical sectional Viewtaken substantially on line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line l i ofFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5--5i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 a detail sectional view taken on line ?-'i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of feedingmeans.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinally extending vertical sectional view takensubstantially on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional View taken on line III-l9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on line HH of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional View taken on line l2-l2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken on line [3-43 of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, both forms of the improved feedingmeans are shown embodied in a mining machine of the room and pillar,continuous cutter, bottom cutting type generally designated I,comprising a casing 2 having a plane bottom surface 3 upon which themachine is adapted to rest and slide in any direction over the minefloor. Projecting forwardly from the machine casing is a cutter bar Ahaving mounted on its margin for circulation thereabout an endlesscutter chain 5. Formed longitudinally through the bottom portion of themachine casing is a passage 6 through which the cutter chain moves, therapidly moving outter chain clearing the cuttings from the kerf andconveying them rearwardly through the bottom of the machine to dischargeat the rear end of the machine in the manner usual in mining machines ofthe room and pillar type. Mounted on the machine casing at the forwardend thereof above the cutter bar is a motor casing I housing a motor,herein preferably of the reversible electric type, having its powershaft 8 horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of themachine. Mounted within the feed frame 9 at the rear of the motor casingis a plurality of feed operating and controlling members, herein in theform of feeding and controlling or haulage drums Ill and II, arranged inan improved manner on parallel vertical axes within the rear portion ofthe machine casing and respectively cooperating with feed operating andcontrolling elements, herein ropes or cables [2 and I3. Arranged at theopposite front corners of the machine casing are swing arms I4, l4carrying usual guide sheaves I5, l5 for guiding the feed cable laterallyfrom the opposite front corners of the machine during cutting inopposite directions. As shown in Fig. 1, the feeding and controllingcables are arranged to efiect feed of the machine from right to left.When it is desired to effect cutting in the opposite direction, thefeeding and controlling cables are arranged in the opposite manner, thecutter bits turned in their respective links of the cutter chain and thedriving motor reversed. As the room and pillar type of machine disclosedherein is generally of a standard design, and as the improved feedingmeans may be embodied in mining machines of various other types, furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Now referring to the preferred form of the improved feeding means andmore particularly to the improved driving means for the feed operatingand controlling drums, it will be noted that the power shaft 8 of themotor extends longitudinally of and is suitably journaled within thefeed frame 9 and has keyed thereto at its rear end a spur pinion llmeshing with a spur gear l8 keyed, to the rear end of a longitudinallyextending shaft l9 herein arranged parallel with and below the motorshaft 8 and likewise suitably journaled within the feed frame 9. Keyedto the forward end of the shaft I 9 is a bevel pinion 20 meshing with abevel gear 2! having its hub keyed at 22 to a vertical shaft 23. Theshaft 23 is journaled within bearing sleeves 24, 24 supported within themachine casing. Journaled on a bearing sleeve 25 supported on the hub ofthe bevel gear 2i is a chain sprocket 25 and this sprocket isconnectible to the gear 2| for driving thereby by means of a pin clutch27 operated by a shipper member 28 having a suitable controlling handle29. The chain sprocket 23 engages and drives the cutter chain 5 in theusual manner. Formed on the upper end of the vertical shaft 23 is abevel pinion 30 meshing with a bevel gear 3! journaled on a bearingsleeve 32 supported by a tubular shaft 33 rotatably mounted on the shaft8. Keyed to the shaft l9 adjacent the gear 58 is a spur pinion 34meshing with a spur gear 35 journaled on a tubular shaft 36 in turnrotatably mounted on the shaft 8. The gears 3i and 35 hereinrespectively constitute low and high speed terminal driving gears, andare connectible to the tubular shafts 33 and 36, by multiple discclutches 3i and 38, respectively. The improved operating means for theseclutches will later be described.

In this instance the shafts 33 and 36 are clutched at their inner endsto the opposite hubs of a worm 39 rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 andmeshing, at its opposite sides, with worm wheels 40 and 4!. These wormwheels are suitably rotatably mounted on vertical shafts 32 and 43,respectively, herein arranged equidistantly from the longitudinalvertical center of the machine and. suitably journaled within the feedframe 9, as shown in Fig. 4. These worm wheels are connectible to theVertical shafts 42 and 43 by multiple disc clutches 46 and 45,respectively, each having suitable operating means including a pressureplate 46 engaged by a shipper yoke 41 keyed to a longitudinallyextending operating shaft 48. Secured to the outer ends of these shaftsare suitable operating handles 49 and 50, respectively, whereby theclutches may be independently controlled. Keyed to the lower ends ofthese vertical shafts are the feed operating and controlling drums l0and H herein arranged within horizontal chambers 5| and 52 formed in thefeed frame directly above the cutter chain passage 6, these chambersopening outwardly through the sides of the feed frame to enable thefeeding and controlling cables to be extended in various directions fromtheir respective drums.

Now referring to the improved operating means for the speed controllingclutches 3i and 38, and more particularly to the improved operatingmeans for the clutch 31 controlling the low speed terminal gear 3!, itwill be noted that formed on the bevel gear 3! is a sleeve portion 53,in turn having formed on its rearward edge a cam surface 54 which isadapted to cooperate with a longitudinally reciprocable pin or plunger55 slidably guided in a bore 56 in a bearing member 57. At its rearwardend the pin 55 is pivotally connected at 58 with one end of a lever 58whose opposite end. is pivotally connected at $9 to a threaded member 6!which receives the forward end of a threaded rod 32. The forward portionof this rod is provided with an enlargement 83 forming a shoulder 34,and a spring 65 is compressed between a nut 63 cooperating with thethreaded rearward end of the rod 62 and a collar 6i slidably mounted onthe rearward reduced end of the rod 62 and normally engaging theshoulder 34. The enlarged forward end 63 of the rod 82 passes through atrunnion device tit supported by a shipper member 69 pivotally mountedat it? within a support element H carried within the feed frame. Thislever 69 carries between the trunnion device 68 and the lever pivot l'flclutch applying elements l2, 72 which engage the rearward end surface ofa clutch applying sleeve 73 slidably mounted on the tubular shaft 33, asshown in Fig. 3. It will be evident from the foregoing description thatmovement to the left of the rod 62 in Fig. 2 will result in thetransmission of no pressure to the clutch shipper sleeve l3 until thesliding collar El engages the end of the trunnion device 68; but thatfurther movement to the left, in this figure, of the rod 62 willthereafter impart a load to the shipper sleeve 13 which will bedetermined by the extent of the movement of the rod and the degree ofcompression of the spring 65. A movable fulcrum for the lever 5G isprovided by an adjustable rod Hi pivotally connected at its forward endat 15 to the lever 59 between its pivotal connections 58 and 68, asshown in Fig. 2. This rod is guided within bearing members 16 and 77within the feed frame and has threadedly connected at its rearward end anut member 18 for an operating handle 79. This nut member is heldagainst axial displacement by means of a groove 80 thereon engaged by aflange 88 on the feed frame. The rod 14 also carries a collar 82engageable with a lever arm of a pivoted shipper member 83 for operatingthe pressure plate 84 of the high speed clutch 38. Rotation of the nutmember '53 in a direction to effect movement of the rod M toward theleft in Fig. 2 moves the fulcrum T5 of the lever 59 toward the left, andthereby moves the pin 55 into engagement with the cam surface 5 and uponmovement of the fulcrum sufficiently far to the left the other end ofthe lever 59 will have suificient throw so that the shoulder 6 5 willpass inside the trunnion device 68 and permit the collar 61 to contactwith the trunnion device and the spring 65 to load the low speedfriction clutch 31. Obviously, when the spring 35 is under sufficientcompression so that it will yield only when a pressure adequate toeffect power transmission through the discs of the friction clutch 3'!is applied to the collar 67, the adjustment of the lever fulcrum willeffect rotation of the worm 39 at a low speed by the bevel gear 3| forany desired part of each revolution of the latter. When the rod 14 ismoved to the left so far that the collar 6'! continuously presses underthe pressure of the spring against the trunnion device 68, continuousrota- 75 tion of the worm 39 will take place, the spring 65 willcompress during each rotation of the bevel gear 3! an amountsubstantially equal to the full throw of the cam 54; but since the loadof the spring is desirably above the minimum necessary to effect powertransmission through the friction clutch discs, there will be no releaseeven when the lowest point in the cam 54 is opposite the pin 55.However, by moving the fulcrum rod l9 graduated amounts toward the rightin Fig. 2, the period of drive during each rotation of the bevel gears3i may be progressively reduced until it is entirely discontinued. Whenthe fulcrum rod M is moved a sufficient distance toward the right inFig. 2, the low speed clutch 9? is entirely released, and uponengagement of the collar 82 on the rod with the lever arm of the clutchshipper 83 the latter may be swung rearwardly to effect application ofthe high speed clutch 3B, and as a result the worm 39 is driven at acontinuous high speed. It is thereforeevident that by suitableadjustment of the fulcrum rod Hi the worm 39 may be driven at acontinuous high speed, at a continuous low speed and intermittentlydriven at a number of different still lower mean speeds. As a result,the feed operating and controlling drums I0 and II may be separately orsimultaneously driven in a direction to wind in their respective cablesand under the control of the disc clutches 44 and 55 at variable lowspeeds between zero and a predetermined maximum low speed and at arelatively high predetermined speed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, there isshown keyed to the rear end of the motor power shaft 8, as shown in Fig.9, a spur pinion 85 meshing with a spur gear 86 keyed to alongitudinally extending shaft 87 herein arranged parallel with andbelow the motor power shaft and suitably journaled Within the machineframe. Keyed to and driven by the shaft 81 is a bevel gear 88 meshingwith a bevel gear 89 keyed to a vertical shaft 90 suitably journaledwithin the machine frame. Also keyed to the shaft 99 and driven therebyis a spur gear 9I meshing with a spur gear 92 having its hub keyed at 93to a vertical shaft 94 likewise suitably journaled within the machineframe. J ournaled on the hub of the gear 92 by a bearing sleeve 95 is achain sprocket 96 which engages and drives the cutter chain 5. The gear92 is connectible to the chain sprocket 96 by a pin clutch 9'! similarto the clutch 21 heretofore described and having similar operatingmeans. Keyed to the upper end of the shaft 94 is a bevel gear 98 meshingwith a bevel gear 99, herein the high speed terminal gear. The hub ofthe gear 99 is keyed to the rear end of a longitudinally extending shaftI09 herein arranged with its axis parallel with and above the motorshaft axis and likewise suitably journaled within the machine frame.Keyed to the forward end of the shaft I 90 is a spur pinion Ilil meshingwith a spur gear I92. keyed to a longitudinally extending shaft I93suitably journaled within the feed frame 9. Keyed to the shaft I03 anddriven thereby is a spur pinion I94 meshing with a spur gear I95, hereinthe low speed terminal gear, suitably rotatably mounted on the shaftI99. A so r0- tatably mounted on the shaft I99 is a tubular shaft I96,and the gears 99 and I95 constituting the high and low speed drivingelements, respec tively, are connectible to this tubular shaft bymultiple disc clutches I9! and I08. The operating means for theseclutches will later be described. Formed on the shaft I96 is a worm I99meshing at its opposite sides with worm wheels III] and III which aremounted and arranged to drive the feed operating and controlling drumsin a manner disclosed in the preferred form of the invention, and asshown in Fig. 4. The manner of mounting the worm wheels and thecontrolling means for connecting the drums to their respective wormwheels are shown in Fig. 10, and, as above mentioned, as this drumdriving structure is similar to that disclosed in the preferred form ofthe invention, further description thereof is thought unnecessary.

Now referring to the improved operating means for the high and low speedclutches I97, I98, respectively, and particularly to the improvedoperating means for the low speed clutch, it will be noted that formedon the forward face of the spur gear I05 is a cam H5 with which isadapted to engage a longitudinally reciprocable plunger or pin I I8guided in a bore i ll formed in a bearing member H8. The forward end ofthis pluner is pivotally connected at I I9 with one end of a lever I20whose opposite end is pivotally connected at I22 to a threaded memberI23 which receives the forward and of a threaded rod I24. The rearwardend of the rod is provided with an enlargement I25 forming a shoulderI26, and a spring 52'! is compressed between a nut I28 threaded on therod and a collar I29 slidably mounted upon the rod and normally engagingthe shoulder I26. The enlarged rearward end of the rod I24 passesthrough a trunnion device I39- supported by a shipper member I9Ipivotally mounted at I32 within the machine frame. This shipper membercarries at its opposite side from its pivots, clutch applying elementsI33, I33 which engage a ball bearing shipper m r h lilt'. slidablymounted on the tubular shaft I96. It will be evident from the foregoingdescription that movement to the right of the rod I24 in Fig. 8 willresult in the transmission of no pressure to the clutch shipper memberI39 until the sliding collar I29 engages the end of the trunnion deviceI38; but that further movement to the right, in this figure, of the rodI24 will thereafter impart a load to the shipper member I34 which willbe determined by the extent of the movement of the rod and the degree ofcompression of the spring I2'I. A movable fulcrum for the lever I20 isprovided by a trunnion device I35 wh ch is held upon a longitudinallymovable rod I36 between a shoulder I31 on the latter and a collar I38pinned to the rod. The rearward end of the longitudinally movable rod I35 s threadedly engaged at I39 within a boss I49 formed on the rear endwall of the feed frame. Fixed to the rear end of the screw threaded rodis an operat ing handle MI for rotating the screw to effect axialmovement of the rod. Also fixed to the rod I36 is a collar I92engageable with a trunnion device I43 surrounding the rod and pivotallymounted in the outer end of a shipper member I44. This shipper member ispivotally mounted at I 45 on the feed frame and carries clutch apply nelements 53 e11" '="able wih a ball hearing clutch applying member I4!mounted on the tubular shaft I06, for applying the high speed clutchI91. Through the means above described, rotation of the worm H19 may beeffected at a continuous high speed or a continuous low speed, andintermittent rztation at a number of diiferent still slower mean speeds.Rotation of the handle MI in a direction to cause movement of the rodI36 toward the left in Fig. 8 results in loading of the high speedfriction controlling clutch I91 and driving of the worm IIJQdirectly bythe high speed terminal gear 99. Rotation of the handle Ii in adirection to efiect movement of the rod toward the right in Fig. 8 movesthe fulcrum I35 of the lever I20 toward the right and thereby moves thepin I I6 into engagement with the cam I I5; and upon movement of thefulcrum sufficiently far to the right, the other end of the lever I29will have sufiicient throw so that the shoulder I26 will pass inside thetrunnion device I30 and permit the collar I29 to contact with thetrunnion device and the spring I21 to 1oad the low speed frictioncontrolling clutch I98. Obviously, when the spring I21 is undersuficient compression so that it will yield only when a pressureadequate to effect power transmission through the discs of the frictionclutch EH8 is applied to the trunnion I36, the adjustment of the fulcrumdevice I35 may effect rotation of the worm I09 at a low speed by the lowspeed terminal gear I95 for any desired part of each revolution of thelatter. When the rod I36 is moved to the right so far that the collarI29 continuously presses, under the pressure of the spring, against thefulcrum device I25, continuous rotation of the worm IE9 will take placeand the spring I2? will compress dur ng each rotation of the gear Hi5an. amount substantially equal to the full throw of the cam H5; butsince the load of the spring is desirably above the minimum necessary toeffect power transmission through the friction clutch discs, there willbe no release, even when the lowest point in the cam H5 is opposite thepin H6. However, by moving the rod I 36 graduated amounts toward theleft in Fig. 8, the period of drive during each rotation of the gear I95 may be progressively reduced until it is entirely discontinued. Itwill thus be evident that the feed operating and controlling drums I 0and II may be driven in a direction to draw in their respective cablesseparately or simultaneously at variable low speeds and at apredetermined high speed under the control of the drum controllingclutches.

From the foregoing description the mode of operation of both forms ofthe improved feeding mechanism will be clearly apparent, and as the useof a room and pillar coal mining machine of the type disclosed is Wellunderstood by those skilled in the art, a detail description of thegeneral mode of operation of the machine is thought to be unnecessary.It will be noted, however, that the machine may be fed over the minefloor at a relatively high haulage speed by either drum under thecontrol of the high speed friction. The machine may also be fed at anydesired low speed from its maximum low speed down to zero by properadjustment of the fulcrum. Overloading will be prevented in theillustrative embodiments shown in the drawings by the presence of thespring 65 in the preferred form and the spring I21 in the modification.The machine may be suinped in and fed transversely across the coal facein accordance with the room and pillar system of cutting, by means ofthe feed drum and under the control of the controlling drum.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved miningmachine feeding mechanism is provided which is of a rugged and compactcharacter and which is particularly adapted to use in coal miningmachines of the room and pillar type wherein at times substantial variatons the feeding speed are importance. It will further be noted that byarranging the fast and slow speed drive trains and arranging the drumcontrolling clutches in the manner disclosed, a very convenient andsimple operating mechanism for all of the clutches used in the controlof the feed of the machine is made possible. It will further be notedthat a continuous low feed and an intermittent low feed are bothavailable by the same mechanism, permitting a wide variation in thefeeding speeds attained, thereby to suit different cutting conditions.Further advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described two formswhich the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, motor operated gearing fordriving said element, and feeding means for the machine including a lowspeed gear train and a high speed gear train, said high and low speedgear trains driven through said gearing, said low speed gear trainincluding a driving element coaxial with said kerf cutter drivingelement, and said low speed gear train including a friction clutch, andmeans driven by an element of said low speed gearing as distinct fromsaid high speed gearing for intermittently applying and releasing saidclutch at timed intervals.

2. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, motor operated gearing fordriving said element, and feeding means for the machine including a lowspeed gear train and a high speed gear train, the drive for the low andhigh speed gear trains including a driving element coaxial with saidkerf cutter driving element, and said low speed gear train including afriction clutch, and means driven by an element of said low speedgearing as distinct from said high speed gearing for intermittentlyapplying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

3. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism, motor operated drivingmeans for said kerf cutting mechanism including a cutter drive elementdisposed on a vertical axis, and feeding means for the mechanismincluding high and low speed gear trains, said low speed gear traindriven through said cutter drive element, a horizontal shaft driventhrough said low speed gear train, said low speed gear train including afriction clutch coaxial with said horizontal shaft, and means driventhrough said vertical drive element for intermittently applying andreleasing said clutch at timed intervals.

4. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism, motor operated drivingmeans for said kerf cutting mechanism including a cutter drive elementdisposed on a vertical axis, and feeding means for the machine includinghigh and low speed gear trains driven through said vertical driveelement, a horizontal shaft driven through said low speed gear train,said low speed gear train including a clutch coaxial with saidhorizontal shaft, and means driven through said vertical drive elementfor intermittently applying and releasing said clutch at timedintervals.

5. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding high and low speed gear trains driven by said motor drivenshaft, said low speed gear train including a driving element coaxialwith said kerf cutter driving element, a horizontal shaft driven throughsaid low speed gear train, said high and low speed gear trains includingelements coaxial with said horizontal shaft, said low speed gear trainincluding a friction clutch coaxial with said horizontal shaft, andmeans driven by power from said motor driven shaft for intermittentlyapplying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

6. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding high and low speed gear trains driven by said motor drivenshaft and including a driving element coaxial with said kerf cutterdriving element, a horizontal shaft driven by said low speed gear train,said high and low speed gear trains including elements coaxial with saidhorizontal shaft, said low speed gear train including a friction clutchcoaxial with said horizontal shaft, and means driven by power from saidmotor driven shaft for intermittently applying and releasing said clutchat timed intervals.

7. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding high and low speed gear trains driven by said motor drivenshaft, said low speed gear train including a driving element coaxialwith said cutter driving element, a horizontal shaft driven by said lowspeed gear train, said high and low speed gear trains including elementscoaxial with said horizontal shaft, said low speed gear train includinga friction clutch coaxial with said horizontal shaft, and means drivenby one of said elements coaxial with said horizontal shaft forintermittently applying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

8. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding high and low speed gear trains driven by said motor drivenshaft, said high and low speed gear trains including a driving elementcoaxial with said cutter driving element, a horizontal shaft driven bysaid low speed gear train, said high and low speed gear trains includingelements coaxial with said horizontal shaft, said low speed gear trainincluding a friction clutch coaxial with said horizontal shaft, andmeans driven by one of said elements coaxial with said horizontal shaftfor intermittently applying and releasing said clutch at timedintervals.

9. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding a low speed gear train driven by said motor driven shaft andincluding a driving element coaxial with said outter driving element,said low speed gear train including a friction clutch disposed on ahorizontal axis, and means driven by said motor driven shaft forintermittently applying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

10. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element disposed on a vertical axis, a motor driven shaft fordriving said cutter driving element, and feeding means for the machineincluding a low speed gear train driven by an element coaxial with saidoutter driving element, a horizontal shaft driven by said low speed geartrain, said low speed gear train including a friction clutch coaxialwith said horizontal shaft, and means driven by said motor driven shaftfor intermittently applying and releasing saicl clutch at timedintervals.

11. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine andoperatively connected to said kerf cutter driving element to drive thelatter, and feeding means for the machine including a shaft arrangedcoaxially with said longitudinal shaft, a low speed gear train driven bysaid longitudinal shaft including a gear coaxial and rotatable with saidkerf cutter driving element, a low speed clutch for connecting saidshafts in driving relation through said gear train,

and mechanism operated by an element of said low speed gear train forintermittently applying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

12. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine andoperatively connected to said kerf cutter driving element to drive thelatter, and feeding means for the machine including a shaft arrangedcoaxially with said longitudinal shaft, a low speed gear train driven bysaid longitudinal shaft including a gear coaxial and rotatable with saidkerf cutter driving element, a low speed clutch for connecting saidshafts in driving relation through said gear train, mechanism operatedby an element of said low speed gear train for intermittently applyingand releasing said clutch at timed intervals, and a high speed geartrain driven through said shaft extending longitudinally of the machineand operatively connected to said kerf cutter driving element.

13. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine andoperatively connected to said kerf cutter driving element to drive thelatter, and feeding means for the machine including a shaft arrangedcoaxially with said longitudinal shaft, a low speed gear train driven bysaid longitudinal shaft including a gear coaxial and rotatable with saidkerf cutter driving element, a low speed clutch for connecting saidshafts in driving relation through said gear train, mechanism operatedby an element of said low speed gear train for intermittently applyingand releasing said clutch at timed intervals, and a high speed geartrain driven through said shaft extending longitudinally of the machineand operatively connected to said kerf cutter driving element andincluding a high speed gear coaxial with said longitudinal shaft.

14. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial and rotatable with said sprocket, and feedingmeans for the machine including a high speed gear train and a low speedgear train, said gear trains respectively including high and low speedterminal gears arranged on axes extending longitudinally of the machineand said low speed gear train driven by said coaxial sprocket drivinggear, a clutch controlling the drive by said low speed terminal gear,and means actuated by an element of said low speed gear train forautomatically applying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

15. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial and rotatable with said sprocket, and feedingmeans for the machine including a high speed gear train and a low speedgear train, said gears trains respectively including high and low speedterminal gears arranged on axes extending longitudinally of the machineand both gear trains driven by said coaxial sprocket driving gear. I

16. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial with said sprocket, and feeding means for themachine including a low speed gear train, said gear train including abevel gear coaxial with said sprocket driving gear and driven thereby, abevel gear meshing with and driven by said coaxial bevel gear, ahorizontal shaft arranged coaxially with and driven by said lastmentioned bevel gear, a clutch for connecting said last mentioned bevelgear to said shaft, and

means actuated by an element of said low speed gear train forautomatically applying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals.

17. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial with said sprocket, and

feeding means for the machine including a high speed gear train and alow speed gear train, said low speed gear train including a bevel gearcoaxial with said sprocket driving gear and driven thereby, a bevel gearmeshing with and driven by said coaxial bevel gear, and a horizontalshaft arranged coaxially with and driven by said last mentioned bevelgear and saidlow speed gear train including a clutch for connecting saidlast mentioned bevel gear to said shaft, and means actuated by anelement of said low speed gear train for automatically applying andreleasing said clutch at timed intervals, said gear trains driving saidhorizontal shaft selectively at continuous high and intermittent lowspeeds.

18. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, aparallel shaft operatively connected to said kerf cutter driving elementand gearing connecting said shafts in driving relation, and feedingmeans for the machine including a driven shaft coaxial with androtatable relative to said first mentioned longitudinal shaft, a lowspeed gear train including a gear coaxial and rotatable with said kerfcutter driving element, and a low speed terminal driving gear coaxialwith said coaxial driven shaft, a clutch for connecting said low speedterminal gear to said coaxial driven shaft, and means actuated by saidlow speed terminal gear for intermittently applying and releasing saidclutch at timed intervals.

19. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, aparallel shaft operatively connected to said kerf cutter driving elementand gearing connecting said shafts in driving relation, and feedingmeans for the machine including a driven shaft coaxial with androtatable relative to said first mentioned longi-,

tudinal shaft, a low speed gear train including a gear coaxial androtatable with said kerf cutter driving element and a low speed terminaldriving gear coaxial with said coaxial driven shaft, a clutch forconnecting said low speed terminal gear to said coaxial driven shaft,means actuated by said low speed terminal gear for intermittentlyapplying and releasing said clutch at timed intervals, and a high speedgear train including a gear coaxial with and driven by said parallelshaft and a high speed terminal gear coaxial with said coaxial drivenshaft, and a clutch for connecting said high speed terminal gear to saidcoaxial driven shaft.

20. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving element, motor operated driving means for said kerf cuttingmechanism including a gear coaxial with said kerf cutter driving elementfor driving the latter, and feeding means for the machine including ahorizontal driven shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, a highspeed gear train including a gear coaxial with and driven by said cutterdriving element driving gear and a high speed terminal gear coaxial withsaid shaft, a clutch for connecting said high speed terminal gear tosaid shaft, a low speed gear train driven by said gear coaxial with saidcutter driving element driving gear including a shaft coaxial with saidlongitudinal shaft, a low speed terminal gear coaxial with and driven bysaid coaxial shaft, a clutch for connecting said low speed terminal gearto said longitudinal driven shaft, and means actuated by an element ofthe low speed gear train for intermittently applying and releasing saidlow speed clutch at timed intervals.

21. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mechanism including a kerf cutterdriving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial and rotatable with said sprocket, and feedingmeans for the machine including a high speed gear train and a low speedgear train, said low speed gear train driven by said coaxial sprocketdriving gear and said gear trains including high and low speed clutchesarranged in coaxial relation on horizontal axes, and means driventhrough said coaxial sprocket driving gear forintermittently applyingand releasing said low speed clutch at timed intervals.

22. In a mining machine, kerf cutting mecha-- nism including a kerfcutter driving sprocket, motor operated driving means for said sprocketincluding a gear coaxial and rotatable with said sprocket, and feedingmeans for the machine including a high speed gear train and a low speedgear train, said gear trains both driven by said coaxial sprocketdriving gear and including high and low speed clutches arranged incoaxial relation on horizontal axes, and means driven by said coaxialsprocket driving gear for intermittently applying and releasing said lowspeed clutch at timed intervals.

LEON E. SIMMONS.

